12 Days of Holiday FIRE & CO Safety 

Enter below for your chance to win a Fire & Co safety prize pack, which includes: 

• Kidde smoke alarm with a 10-year battery
• Kidde "Cause for Alarm" booklet featuring Fire and CO safety information and activites 
• Plug -in Kidde carbon monoxide alarm with battery back-up 
• Assortment of items for everyday use featuring Fire & CO safety messages

Below are your 12 TIPS for Holiday Fire & CO Safety;

Holiday safety starts with safe HOLIDAY LIGHTS.

The glow of the season should come from joy, shared safely with those we love.

That’s why communities across Ontario are promoting fire-safe decorating practices.

• Inspect every strand of lights for damage and discard any that are frayed or broken.

• Only use certified lights and timers. Look for certification marks like CSA, ULC, or ETL.

• Use LED lights. They stay cooler and save energy.

• Turn lights off overnight or when you’re away, to avoid overheating.

• Use outdoor-rated lights for exterior décor. 

Holiday safety starts with proper TREE WATERING.

Holiday trees bring wonder, but a dry one can turn to danger in seconds, becoming a serious fire risk. That's why communities across Ontario are raising awareness about daily tree watering. Prevention starts with simple habits:

• Water your tree every single day.

• Keep it away from heat sources to prevent it from drying out quickly.

• Never place lit candles on the tree.

• Use a sturdy stand that holds enough water for daily hydration.

•  Only use certified lights (look for CSA, ULC, or ETL marks).

Holiday safety starts with candle and decoration safety.

Decorate with joy, not risk - choose responsible ways to shine this season.

That’s why communities across Ontario are promoting safe decorating choices.

• Keep candles away from anything that can burn.

• Use candles in sturdy containers that will not fall over.

• Never leave lit candles unattended.

• Choose flameless candles when possible.

Holiday safety starts with SMOKE ALARMS. 

A smoke alarm is more than a sound - it’s a lifeline in a fire. When it’s missing, damaged or disabled, the consequences can be fatal.  

That’s why communities across Ontario are making smoke alarm safety a priority.

• Install alarms on every storey and outside all sleeping areas of your home.

• Test them monthly by pressing the test button.

• Change batteries annually.  

• Replace units every 10 years according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Holiday safety starts with CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS. 

You can’t see it. You can’t smell it. But you can protect your loved ones from it with a working carbon monoxide alarm.

That’s why communities across Ontario are making carbon monoxide safety a household standard.

• Install carbon monoxide alarms outside all sleeping areas and starting January 1st, Ontario Fire Code changes will require you to also install them on every storey of your home. Learn more at Ontario.ca/CarbonMonoxide.

• Test them monthly by pressing the test button and change batteries annually.

• Evacuate immediately if the alarm sounds and call 9-1-1 from outside the building.

Replace carbon monoxide alarms every 10 years or according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Holiday safety starts with proper use of EXTENSION CORDS. 

Holiday decorations often come with extra plugs – which can mean extra danger.

That’s why communities across Ontario are promoting safe power practices.

• Look for approved extension cords with certification marks like CSA, ULC, or ETL and rated for indoor or outdoor use.

• Extension cords should not be linked together - instead, use an extension cord that is long enough to do the job.

• Don’t overload a circuit, and never run cords under rugs or across doorways where they can be damaged or cause tripping.

• Inspect cords for damage before use, and discard if frayed.

• Unplug decorations when you leave.

Holiday safety starts with SAFE FAMILIES IN THE KITCHEN. 

Little hands (or paws!) and holiday heat don’t belong together - keep kids safe while you cook.

That’s why communities across Ontario are empowering adults to protect little ones.

• Show kids how to stay one metre (three feet) away from stoves and ovens.

• Explain why hot surfaces can cause burns. 

• Assign safe tasks like mixing or decorating. Supervise kids in the kitchen closely.

• Turn pot handles inward when pots are on the stove so they can not be easily knocked or pulled off the stove.

• Make sure electrical cords are not dangling from countertops, where they could be pulled by small children or pets.

• Cool a burn by running cool water over the wound for 3 to 5 minutes. If the burn is severe, seek medical attention.

Holiday safety starts with having a HOME FIRE ESCAPE PLAN.

Fire doesn’t wait - and neither should we. 

Every year, too many Ontario families face house fires with no escape plan. In those frantic moments, every second counts. The danger is real, but preventable.

Communities across Ontario are making escape planning a household priority. A home fire escape plan is simple - and can mean the difference between life and death.

• Identify two exits from every room.

• Determine who will be responsible for helping young children, older adults or anyone else that may need assistance. 

• Choose a safe meeting spot outside, like a tree or lamp post across the street.

• Once out, stay out.

• Call 9-1-1 from outside of the home.

• Practice the plan with everyone in your household at least twice a year. Practice at night and during the daytime.

• Review your plan every year.

Holiday safety starts with safe HEATING SOURCES.

 Heating equipment keeps us warm during cold weather, but if used unsafely, it can lead to fires.

 Every winter, homes across Ontario experience fires caused by heating equipment.

 That’s why communities are promoting safe heating practices.

• Have your heating system, vents, and chimneys inspected and cleaned annually by a qualified technician.

• Ensure woodstoves, fireplaces, and inserts are installed by a qualified professional.

• Always use a fire screen around the fireplace.

• Allow ashes to cool before placing them in a metal container with a tight-fitting lid and store it outside.

• Plug space heaters directly into wall outlets; never use extension cords.

• Turn off heaters when you leave the room.

• Install a carbon monoxide alarm to protect against deadly carbon monoxide.

Holiday safety starts with SAFE SMOKING. 

One careless moment can change everything. 

That’s why communities across Ontario are promoting responsible smoking habits.

• Encourage smokers to smoke outside.

• Use deep, sturdy ashtrays and extinguish cigarettes fully. Do not extinguish cigarettes in plant pots, which may contain a mixture of peat moss, shredded wood and bark that can easily ignite.

• Never smoke in bed.

• To prevent smoking fires, you must be alert. Avoid smoking when tired or impaired.

• Empty ashes into a metal container - not the garbage can - and keep it outside.

Holiday safety starts with LITHIUM-ION BATTERY SAFETY.

Powering the season should never mean compromising safety.

That’s why communities across Ontario are raising awareness about lithium-ion battery safety.

• Charge lithium-ion battery powered devices on hard, flat surfaces, and not on soft surfaces like beds, couches, or under pillows.

• Always use the charger that came with the device and is recommended by the device’s manufacturer. Use certified chargers with the CSA, ULC or ETL certification mark.

• Never leave devices plugged in unattended. Unplug devices when charging is complete.

• If your battery becomes hot, swollen, or damaged, stop using it immediately. Replace it with a battery recommended by the device’s manufacturer.